dry ground; that a wolf, descending from the mountains to drink, ran, at the cry of the children, and fed them under a fig-tree, caressing and licking them as if they had been her own young, the infants hanging on to her as if she had been their mother, until Faus’tulus, the king’s shepherd, struck with so surprising a sight, conveyed them home, and delivered them to his wife, Ac’ca Lauren’tia, to nurse, who brought them up as her own. 9.  Others, however, assert, that from the vicious life of this woman, the shepherds had given her the nickname of Lupa, or wolf, which they suppose might possibly be the occasion of this marvellous story.

10.  Romu’lus and Re’mus, the twins, in whatever manner preserved, seemed early to discover abilities and desires above the meanness of their supposed origin.  From their very infancy, an air of superiority and grandeur seemed to discover their rank.  They led, however, the shepherd’s life like the rest; worked for their livelihood, and built their own huts.  But pastoral idleness displeased them, and, from tending their flocks, they betook themselves to the chase.  Then, no longer content with hunting wild beasts, they turned their strength against the robbers of their country, whom they often stripped of their plunder, and divided it among the shepherds. 11.  The youths who continually joined them so increased in number, as to enable them to hold assemblies, and celebrate games.  In one of their excursions, the two brothers were surprised.  Re’mus was taken prisoner, carried before the king, and accused of being a plunderer and robber on Nu’mitor’s lands.  Rom’ulus had escaped; but Re’mus, the king sent to Nu’mitor, that he might do himself justice.

12.  From many circumstances, Faus’tulus suspected the twins under his care to be the same that Amu’lius had exposed on the Ti’ber, and at length divulged his suspicions to Rom’ulus.  Nu’mitor made the same discovery to Re’mus.  From that time nothing was thought of but the tyrant’s destruction.  He was beset on all sides; and, during the amazement and distraction that ensued, was taken and slain; while Nu’mitor, who had been deposed for forty years, recognised his grandsons, and was once more placed on the throne.

13.  The two brothers, leaving Nu’mitor the kingdom of Alba, determined to build a city upon the spot where they had been exposed and preserved.  But a fatal desire of reigning seized them both, and created a difference between these noble youths, which terminated tragically.  Birth right in the case of twins could claim no precedence; they therefore were advised by the king to take an omen from the flight of birds, to know to which of them the tutelar gods would decree the honour of governing the rising city, and, consequently, of being the director of the other. 14.  In compliance with this advice, each took his station on a different hill.  To Re’mus appeared six vultures; in the moment after, Rom’ulus saw twelve.  Two parties